Defending corners/free kicks with 11 players

I rarely expect us to score from corners and free kicks. We’ve been weak at set plays since well before Critchley came.

Pennington surprised me today when he latched onto Morgan’s cross.
 
Ping Pong said:
Why?
Surely if we leave at least 1 upfront, ie Dembele or CJ, they have to cover. Just invites more pressure as no outlet.
Dembele not much use defending corners, so why not leave him upfront on half way line. Hes quick so 2 defenders would need to mark him.
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I've always thought this. Many corners can be cleared with a big boot upfield. Apart from pulling one or two back to cover him, a player with lots of pace(C J?) could be very dangerous.
 
Ping Pong said:
Why?
Surely if we leave at least 1 upfront, ie Dembele or CJ, they have to cover. Just invites more pressure as no outlet.
Dembele not much use defending corners, so why not leave him upfront on half way line. Hes quick so 2 defenders would need to mark him.
Click to expand...
I watched the 90 minutes of Florist vs Us the other day and what stood out like a sore thumb was the amount of times we started an attack with the player/s left up who won the clearance.
 
Insider said:
Because that's what it says you do in the FA Coaching manual Chapter 6 para 13.
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You think he got as far as Chapter 6?!!!!!!

No, the reason is simple imm, bringing everyone back means there is less space in the box for the attacking team. Whilst it increases the chances of deflections it gives an opponent less time on the ball. Leaving say 2 up fas, means the opposition would have 3 back, maybe 4, leaving 15 (14 excluding the keeper) in and around the box, allowing for at least 1 outside and his marker gives a lot of time and more room for the second ball to be used to effect, or even an attacker to get a run on the ball.

To do it though is negative and shows a mistrust of your players.
 
fcblackpool said:
You think he got as far as Chapter 6?!!!!!!

No, the reason is simple imm, bringing everyone back means there is less space in the box for the attacking team. Whilst it increases the chances of deflections it gives an opponent less time on the ball. Leaving say 2 up fas, means the opposition would have 3 back, maybe 4, leaving 15 (14 excluding the keeper) in and around the box, allowing for at least 1 outside and his marker gives a lot of time and more room for the second ball to be used to effect, or even an attacker to get a run on the ball.

To do it though is negative and shows a mistrust of your players.
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I've read the Chapter but why, on Tuesday say, don't we leave 2 speedy players (Dembele and CJ would be perfect choices) at a Morecambe corner, one on each side of the half way line and see what happens. Is that too outrageously reckless?
 
Insider said:
I've read the Chapter but why, on Tuesday say, don't we leave 2 speedy players (Dembele and CJ would be perfect choices) at a Morecambe corner, one on each side of the half way line and see what happens. Is that too outrageously reckless?
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Yellow card for that aka caution. It's the buzzword (is that still a thing?).
 
Ping Pong said:
Why?
Surely if we leave at least 1 upfront, ie Dembele or CJ, they have to cover. Just invites more pressure as no outlet.
Dembele not much use defending corners, so why not leave him upfront on half way line. Hes quick so 2 defenders would need to mark him.
Click to expand...
Always thought that. There was a coach in Spain who used to consider defensive corners as an opportunity to attack, once the team got the ball out to the player up top once teams playing against them would only commit three or four players to attacking the corners afterwards
 
We’ve been over this nonsense time and time again. It’s been proven to be a statistically better choice not to leave a man on the halfway line, which is precisely why nobody with more than half a brain cell ever does it.

Happy to Help 👍
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
We’ve been over this nonsense time and time again. It’s been proven to be a statistically better choice not to leave a man on the halfway line, which is precisely why nobody with more than half a brain cell ever does it.

Happy to Help 👍
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Bifster, your stoic defence of NC and his tactical oddities is admirable.

I have to admit to having missed the publication of said statistical evidence and would greatly appreciate a hard copy to digest at our next gathering in the Moretti! 🤣
 
Satriale's Pork Store said:
Bifster, your stoic defence of NC and his tactical oddities is admirable.

I have to admit to having missed the publication of said statistical evidence and would greatly appreciate a hard copy to digest at our next gathering in the Moretti! 🤣
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It’s not just a NC tactic… This same question is widely repeated on fans forums from lands end to John O’Groats.

I’ve no doubt this thread will be repeated again in Approx 6-9 months (the average memory span of an AVFTT poster). 😂
 
I have no issue with bringing everyone back but we need to have more of a plan. I.e. CJ and Dembele break as soon as the ball is delivered, that would then give us a chance on either wing if Grimshaw claims. Sending Dembele to defend a corner seems a little pointless any way.
 
Ping Pong said:
Why?
Surely if we leave at least 1 upfront, ie Dembele or CJ, they have to cover. Just invites more pressure as no outlet.
Dembele not much use defending corners, so why not leave him upfront on half way line. Hes quick so 2 defenders would need to mark him.
Click to expand...
I’ve been saying that for years. If we clear our lines the ball just comes back in so for gods sake leave someone in the centre circle who can hold the ball up!!!!
 
CJ is poor in the air and Kaddy needs a pair of step ladders, so I don't get it either.

On the other hand, CJ's pace and Kaddy's touch and control would mean decent clearances have a good chance of sticking and developing from there.

But it's not a criticism of NC specifically, it's just the modern way. In the last two and a bit seasons, since I started taking notice of it, I bet not 5 teams have come to Bloomfield and done it.
 
CGP1 said:
CJ is poor in the air and Kaddy needs a pair of step ladders, so I don't get it either.

On the other hand, CJ's pace and Kaddy's touch and control would mean decent clearances have a good chance of sticking and developing from there.

But it's not a criticism of NC specifically, it's just the modern way. In the last two and a bit seasons, since I started taking notice of it, I bet not 5 teams have come to Bloomfield and done it.
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I'm sure CJ thinks his skull will implode if he should ever try and head a ball!
 
If it were just me and Critch sone of you ‘critical thinkers’ might have a point about your ‘obvious solution’.

However, beyond the odd dinosaur, nobody leaves players up.

“But he can’t head the ball”
“But he’s really quick and can score a breakaway goal”
“He’s only 5ft 2, what’s the point in having him in the box”
“Personally I’d leave 2 in the halfway line, not just one”
“If the earth is a globe, then why don’t the people at the bottom just fall off”
 
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